Juana Leno is one of the four revivalist matriarchs of contemporary Acoma pottery (including Marie Z. Chino, Lucy Lewis, and Jessie Garcia). She was a daughter of Lupita and Jose Vallo and learned to make pottery from her grandmother Eulilia Vallo. This is one of the few canteens we have seen of her work.  It was originally purchased in 1968.  The canteen is coil built and fully painted.  The design on the front is a bird with very intricately and delicately painted lines.  The back fo the canteen has a mountain pattern.  Note the exceptional use of design to flow from the neck to the base with open space to allow the clay to speak through the imagery.  The canteen was traditionally fired so there is a slight variation in coloration. It is signed on the bottom, “Mrs. Juana Leno”. It is in excellent condition and a creative piece of pottery by this important Acoma Pueblo potter!